Swar



Feb. 2 1926.

F. W. LEIDECKER S WAB Filed July 2, 1924 [fire/ifa# Patented Feb. 2, 11926.

UNTED stains imam: w. Lniiincxna, or TULSA, examens.

' Application led J'uly 2,

5 Oklahoma, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Swabs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accom- 10 panying drawings.

what are known as swabs that are used for liftin` a quantity of liquid from the casings or tu ings of Adeep wells, such as\oi1.wells, and for agitating the liquid in the -bottoms 15,0f the wells for the purposeof producing further or freer ow.

`The mainobjeets 'of the invention are:

First, to rovide a swab that; in a con. tracted con ition, may-be easily and quickly 20 .lowered into the casing or tubing, the fluid.

passingl freely throu h and about the swab as the. latter deseen s;

Second, to provide aswab that, upon being raised within the casing or tubing,

25 will expand lagainst the wall thereof, the

expansion ofu'theswab being caused by internal ressure created by the weight of liquid a ove the swab2 whereby'the liquid is revented'from assin between the swab an the wall of t e casing or tubing;

Third, tov provide, in a swab of the foregoing nature, means for automatically relieving the internal pressure and permitting fluid to pass the swab in the event that 'the weight of liquid above the swab is so great as to impose undue strains upon the swab and swab-opgratng mechanism, or too great a friction casing, such as might mutilate or otherwise injure the packing element hof the swab; and

Fourth, to provide adjustin means fior varyin the pressure at whic the relief means comes eective.U

Further and more general objects are to provide a highly efficient swab of the foregoin character that is very stron and dura le and yetis comparatively simp e and inex ensive of manufacture and that maybe readily assembled and disassembled for the purposes of inspection and replacement of arts.`

p These objects, with others hereinafter appearing, are attained ,in the construction This invention relates to improvements in tween the swab andtubing or- 1924. serial No. 723,613;

illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein Figs. 1 and 2 are each a central 1 vertical section through a part of a well casing or tubing in which is shown, in similar section, in y improved swab, the iirst view representing the parts in the positions they occupy' when the swab is descending,

and the latter showing them in the positions theyA occupy when the swab is ascending; Fig. 3 1s a fragmentary view, similar in character to the preceding views, showing th'epressure relief means of valve in pressure relieving or open position; and Figs. 4., 5 and 6 are sections on the respective lines 4 4, 5-5 and 6 6 of Fig. 1.

In practice, the swabs are made in sizes to fit well casings and well tubings of different diameters. What is designated 1 may be considered either `a well casing or well tubing.

The swab comprises a central hollow stein or body that is externally threaded at its opposite ends. A ball check valve is applied to the` upper endA of the stemor body 10 and the same comprises a cage 11 which encloses a ball valve 12 that is adapted to engage a seat 13, shown as clam ed between a shoulder 14 of the cage 11 an the upper end of a tubular member 15 which is externally threaded`for'applieation to the lower end of the cage 11. and is internally threaded for application to theupper end of the stem or body 10. A swivel 18, having a head 19 atA its lower end, is adapted to be inserted upwardly through the cage 11 andextended through the neck portion 20 thereof. The swivel is held within the neck portion ofthe cage by a nut 21 that is applied to its upper end. A washer' 22 of suitable material, such as brass, is interposed between 'the head l19I and a shoulder 23 to insure easy rotation of the swivel. The swivel terminates at its upper end in a threaded pin 25 lwhich is preferably designed to fit the sockets or boxes of standard sucker rods or other operatin equipment, the lower end of a sucker rod being indicated at 26 in the drawing.

v vThe expansible packing1 element or piston of the swab is designate 28 and the same is constructed of suitable material such as rubber, and is reinforced at its ends by enibedded elements desi ated 30 and shown as having the form o coil springs. Heads 32 and 33 are applied to the opposite ends of the packing element or piston 28, and the one designated 33 is internally threaded so that it may be screwed up along the lower end of the stem or body 10. Threaded onA the upper end of the stem or body is a nut 35 having a series of perforations 36 (see Fig. 5). The nut 35 is screwed down to a position adjacent the upper head 32. vThe head 32 is shown as having a series of pas sageways 38 which open into the space between the stem or body 10 and the packing element or piston 28. The lower head 1s also provided with passageways or ports 39 which are normally closed by a valve 40, in the nature of a washer or ring, which is held seated against the underneath face of the head 33 by a spring 41 which is adapted to be compresesd to any desired degree of tension between said valve and an abutment 42, in the nature of a nut, that is threaded to the lower end of the body or stem 10 and is adapted to be held against turning with respect thereto by a set screw 43 which has its inner end reduced and adapted to enter a slot 44 in the wall of the stem or body.

As the swab is lowered into the casing or tubing in the presence of liquid, the parts assume the positions shown in Fig. 1 and the liquid passes upwardly about the swab and through the hollow stem or body 10, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, the ball valve 12 rising from its seat to allow a. free passage of the liquid past the same. W'hen the direction of movement of the swab is reversed the parts take the positions and acquire the conditions illustrated in Fig. 2.A

Ball valve 12 drops to its seat and prevents the passage of iuid downwardly through the stem or body 10. A part of the liquid above the swab entiers through the holes 36 of the nut 35 and through the passageway 3S of the head 32 into the interior of the packing element of piston 23, expanding the same into contact with the wall of the casing or tubing 1. If the tension of the spring 41 is equal to or greater than the weight of the liquid above the swab, the parts retain the positions shown in Fig. 2 as the swab is raised to elevate the column of liquid above it. However, should theweight of this liquid be greater than the pressure of the spring 41,

the valve 4() will recede from its seat, as shown 1n Fig. 3. permitting a quantity of.l

liquid to pass through the interior of the packing element or piston, the liquid lcontinuing to pass the valve 40 Auntil the pressure of the spring 41 balances the weight of the liquid above the swab, when the relief valve 40 will close and the swab operate as above described.

Itis clear from what has been stated above that the abutment or nut 42 may be adjusted along the stem or body 10 to vary the tension of the spring 41 thereby to determine ramera how great a. weight of liquid may be lifted by the swab before the rellef valve opens.

Attention is also called to the fact that p by reason of the design and method of mounting the seat 13 of the ball valve 12 said seat may be reversed so as to double its life.

Having thus described my invention, wha I claim is: f

1. A swab of the character set forth comprisinor a hollow body, a valve for preventing a c ownward flow and permitting an upward flow of Huid through said body, an expansible piston surrounding the body and enclosing a chamber that is open at top and bottom, and a valve for controlling the passage ot fluid through the open bottom of the piston.

2. A swab of the character set forth comprising a hollow body, an upwardly o ening valve for controlling the passage o fluid through said body, an expansible piston surrounding the body and enclosing a chamber that is open at top and bottom, and a downwardly Vopening valve for controlling the passage of fluid through the open bottom of the piston.

A swab of the character set forth comprising a hollow body, a valve preventing a downward iow and .permitting an upward flow of fluid through said body, an eXpansible piston surrounding the body and enclosing a chamber that is open at top and bottom, a valve for controlling the passage of fluid through the open bottom of the piston, and adjustable means tending to retain the last mentioned valve closed whereby said valve may be caused to open at varying degrecs of pressure.

4. 'A swab of the character set forth comprising a hollow body, heads applied to and spaced longtudinally of said body, an eX- pansible sleeve supported by and Abetween said heads, said heads having passageways which open into the interior of said sleeve. an outwardly opening valve controlling the passage of fluid through the passageways of the lower head, and a valve preventing a downward fiow of fluid through the `hollow body and permitting an upward flow therethrough.

5. A swab of the character sct forth corn'- prising a hollow body, a valve preventing a downward passage of Huid through said body and permitting an upward passage therethrough, an expansible piston surrounding said body, there being` passageways for the access of Huid fromv above the swab to the interior of said piston, the lower end of said piston being rovided with a port through which the uid may escape from the interior of the piston, a valve seating upwardly against the piston for closing said port. an abutment sustained by thc body below said valve, and a spring interposed between said abutment and the valve.

lll'i for the access of Huid from above the swab to the interior of said piston', the lower end ofsaid piston 'being proyided with/a port through which the fluid may escape from the interior of the piston, a valve seating up- ,wardly against the piston for closing said port, an abutment adjustably sustained by, the bod below said valve, and a spring interpose 'between said abutment and the valve.

7. A swab of the character set forthcomprising a tubular body, a head surrounding said body and spaced upwardly from its lower end, saidhead having an outlet port, a second head surrounding the body and spaced upwardly from the former head, an expansible sleeve of packing material supported by and between said heads, there being passageways for the access of liquid to the interior of the sleeve from above the swab, an annular relief Valve surrounding the lower end of the body and arranged to seat against the underside of the first mentioned head and. close the port thereof, an abutment adjustable along the lower end of the body, a' spring surrounding the body and confined between said abutment and the `aforesaid valve, and a valve'preventing va 'throu h.

. 8. swab of thelcharacter set forth com! prising a tubular body, a head surround`' ing sald *bodyl and spaced upwardly from its' lower end, said head having an outlet port, a second head surrounding the body and spaced lupwardly from the former head, an expansible sleeve of packing material supported by and between said heads, there .being passageways for the access of liquid' to the interior of the sleeve from above the swab, an annular relief valve'surrounding the lower end of the body and arranged to seat against the underside of the rst menf tioned head and close the port thereof, an abutment applied to the lower end ofthe body, a spring surrounding the body and confined between said abutment andthe heads and spaced from the tubular body,

said heads having passageways opening into the interior of the sleeve, an annular valve member surrounding the body and yadaptedto` be seated against the underside of the first mentioned head, an abutment lcarried by the lower end of the. body, a

spring surrounding the lower end of the body and confined between said abutment and said valve, an upwardly opening check vvalve including a cage that 1s applied to the g upper end of the body, and a swivel attached to the upper end of the cage and incorporating means for the application of 'operating equipment.

l0. A swab comprising a hollow tubular body thatis externally threaded at top and bottom, an abutment threaded onto the lower end of the body, a coil spring surrounding the body and resting upon said abutment, anI annular valve sustained by Vsaid spring, a head screwed onto the lower 'end of the body above said valve and having ports controlled by said valve, a second head surrounding the body and spaced upwardly from the former head,A the latter head having `passageways, an expansible sleeve of packing material supported by and between said heads, a member threaded downwardly over theupper end of the sleeve against the second mentioned head' and having holes which register with the passageways of said head, an internally and externally threaded member applied tov the upper end of the body, a ball valve cage 1nternally threaded at its lowerend and applied to the last mentioned member, said cage having a shoulder opposed vto the upper end of said member, a reversible valve seat clamped between said shoulder and said member, a ball within the cage that is adapted to engage said seat, and a pin swiveled within the upper end of the cage and to which is adapted to be connected operating equipment.

1l. A swab of the character set forth comprising a hollow body, heads applied to and spaced apart longitudinally of sald body, the opposed surfaces of said heads having channels, an .expansible sleeve of packingl material disposed between said heads and having its ends -confined within said channels, said heads having ports, a valve controlling the port of the lower head, and a second valve for preventing a downward iiow of iuid through the hollow` body' but permitting an upward flow through.

l2. A swab of the character set forth comprising a hollow body that is threaded at its opposite ends, ported heads applied to and spaced apart longitudinally of said body, one of said heads being threaded on the body, an abutment threaded onto the body `thereand arranged to be engaged by the other head thereby to prevent separation of the e second valve preventing a downward flow heads beyond a glvendistance, the opposed' and permitting an upward flow of Huid surfaces of the heads having channels, an through the hollow body. 10 expnnsible sleeve of packing material sup- In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my ported by and between said heads and havsignature.

:ing its ends within said channels, a, valve controlling the port of the lower head, and FRANK W. LEIDECKER. 

